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October 17, 2017

18/10/2017: Dust controls and the implications of NFPA standards

by J.Tom Wright, Director of Process and Installation, Kice
Industries

What is dust?
A dust particle is a fine particle that is released and/or transported into the
air either through entrainment with a product, displacement of air because of a
product, in conveying air and/or in other processing equipment.

The nature of dust
Microscopic airborne particles are released into the air at various stages of
the milling process, especially where raw grain enters the initial grinding
area, but the sifting and packaging areas can also generate a lot of
particulate matter.

Every area along the line where product is handled generates dust that needs to
be contained. Combustible dust explosions are a risk in many areas of a
facility. Facilities create dust particles that can become airborne and
dispersed throughout the plant. It’s when these particles are in a combustible
environment that they represent a significant risk for an industrial accident.

The serious hazards associated with handling fine dusts and powdered materials
may be overlooked by many plant personnel because they are not fully
understood. The presence of dust in a factory is now at the top of the list of
items to inspect during an audit.

Facilities must now implement a strategic plan for managing combustible dust at
their locations and be proactive in mitigating these dust issues. The National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets standards and codes to protect
buildings against fire and explosion risks, and the Occupational Safety &
Health Administration (OSHA) is enforcing these standards with increasing
vigilance.

Regulatory standards (NFPA) and what it means for dust control NFPA 652
Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, 2016 Edition was issued by
the NFPA in 2015. The scope of the standard is to provide the basic principles
of and requirements for identifying and managing the fire and explosion hazards
of combustible dusts and particulate solids.

The intent is to provide overarching minimum requirements for combustible dust
and to reference the appropriate specific NFPA standards for a given industry
or material that is being handled, but it does not supersede those existing
standards.